[ad. L. contempt-us (u stem) scorn, f. contempt- ppl. stem of contemnĕre to CONTEMN. Cf. OF. contemps ‘mépris’ (1346 in Godef.), contempt (Cotgr.), which was possibly the immediate source.]
1. The action of contemning or despising; the holding or treating as of little account, or as vile and worthless; the mental attitude in which a thing is so considered. (At first applied to the action, in modern use almost exclusively to the mental attitude or feeling.) Const. of, for; phrase in contempt of.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 217. He toke upon him alle thinge of malice and of tirannie In contempte of regalie.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., 83. Contempt of veyn glory.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (1531), 16 b. Couetynge … the goodes of this worlde, to the contempte and despysynge of grace.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 249. Contempt consisteth chiefelie in three things: for either wee contemne onelie in minde … or lastlie when we adde words or deedes.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iii. 8. The basest … shape That euer penury in contempt of man Brought neere to beast.
1611. Bible, Esther i. 18. Thus shall there arise too much contempt [Coverdale despytefulnes] and wrath.
1614. Bp. Hall, Medit. & Vows, III. § 18. 72. Wee are soon cloyed … and have contempt bred in us through familiaritie.
a. 1679. Hobbes, Rhet., II. ii. 46. Contempt, is when a man thinks another of little worth in comparison to himself.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 148, ¶ 1. New Evils arise every Day … in contempt of my Reproofs.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 4. An outward contempt of what the public esteemeth sacred.
1845. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 21. This flimsy hypocrisy … inspired Gregory with a contempt which he could not dissemble.
1872. Darwin, Emotions, xi. 254. Extreme contempt, or, as it is often called, loathing contempt, hardly differs from disgust.
† b. (with a and pl.) Obs. except as in 4 b.
1574. Whitgift, Def. Aunsw., ii. Wks. 1851, I. 284. I beseech God forgive you your outrageous contempts.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 34. All the contempts they could cast at him were their shame not his.
1733. Wesley, Wks. (1872), VII. 486. Our sins are so many contempts of this highest expression of his love.
2. The condition of being contemned or despised; dishonor, disgrace; esp. in to have, hold in, bring, fall into, contempt.
c. 1450. Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthb. (Surtees), 3711. My teching eftir my dissese Sall noȝt be had in contempt.
1550. Bale, Sel. Wks. (1849), 259. Having his verity in much more contempt than afore.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Isa. xxiii. 9. To bring to contempt [1611 into contempt] all them that be glorious in the earth.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 80. My selfe disgrac’d, and the Nobilitie Held in contempt.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 473. She may be said to have … fallen to such a contempt that she dares scarce show her face.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 219. I and my people will share the contempt you are bringing upon yourselves.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 189. He would like to bring military glory into contempt.
† 3. = Object of contempt. Obs. (Cf. similar use of joy, delight, aversion, etc.).
1611. Bible, Gen. xxxviii. 23. And Iudah said, Let her take it to her, lest we bee shamed [marg. become a contempt].
1746. W. Horsley, Fool (1748), I. 101. The Companion of every Scoundrel, and the Contempt of every reasonable Creature breathing.
c. 1832. Beddoes, Poems, Murderer’s Haunted Couch. Thou shalt not dare to break All men’s contempt, thy life, for fear of worse.
4. Law. Disobedience or open disrespect to the authority or lawful commands of the sovereign, the privileges of the Houses of Parliament or other legislative body; and, esp. action of any kind that interferes with the proper administration of justice by the various courts of law; in this connection called more fully Contempt of Court. [OF. contemnement de justice.]
Contempt of court includes any disobedience to the rules, orders, or process of a court, whether committed by an inferior court, by the servants of the court or officers of the law, or by strangers, and any disrespect or indignity offered to the judges in their judicial capacity within or without the court.
[1552. Huloet, Contempte … properlye agaynste the lawe.]
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 78. Yf he had spoaken anything which doth touch the Kinge in his honour … Arundell. Difference betwene contempt and treason.
1625. in Rymer Fœdera, XVIII. 144/1. Such further Paynes, Penalties, and Imprisonments, as … can or may be inflicted upon them for their contempt and Breach of Our royall Commandment in this Behalfe.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxv. ‘Mr. Jinks,’ said the magistrate, ‘I shall commit that man for contempt.’
1856. Crump, Banking, iii. 82. An order restraining bankers from parting with money … must be obeyed at the risk of being committed for contempt of court.
b. (with a and pl.) An act of such disregard or disobedience.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 78. The question whether Yelverton be not fytt to be censured of a greate contempt.
a. 1626. Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law (1636), 5. Contempts against the crowne, public annoyances against the people.
1722. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. IV. 352. Imprisoned upon contempts (as the not putting off hats before the magistrates was called).
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 287. Not having obeyed the original summons, he had shewn a contempt of the court.
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xvii. 256. Both Houses claim to visit with severe punishment what are called contempts or breaches of their privileges.
c. In contempt: in the position of having committed contempt, and not having purged himself.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 443. If the defendant, on service of the subpoena, does not appear … he is then said to be in contempt.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 265. It is a general court for debtors, and such as are in contempt of the Courts of Chancery and Common-pleas.
1845. Stephen, Laws Eng., II. 177, note. On continuing to make default after having been ordered by the court to pay … he will be in contempt.
